Supported Hardware


Windows and external USB peripherals

One word of caution about external (USB) sound cards ... and other USB peripherals.

Windows can only address the "USB root hub" ... they are directly connected to the internal PCI bus.  Windows will process data from all "Root Hubs" in a machine in parallel.  However, all of the "child" devices are like leaves on a tree, each leaf which "grows" from the same "root" receives a time slot (generally 16 msec) in turn.  If you have too many "leaves" on one root, the delay can become excessive and result in communications failures (time outs) with the controlling software (logger).

This can be particularly problematical with some software that polls every 50 to 100 msec and will timeout if a response has not been received before the next poll interval.  USB can easily handle the aggregate throughput (it will do something like 240 mb/sec) but the delays can be a problem if the software writer does not account for them.

Be particularly aware of this issue if you use external hubs and add many devices - particularly devices like memory sticks and "thumb drives."

73' Joe Subich, W4TV

Ham Radio Solutions - EZmaster

EZ Master is an USB Device that interfaces your PC with several devices in your shack like radios, antennas, filters switching, microphone, headphones etc. Including PHONE, CW, RTTY, DIGITAL Mode interface and internal DVK, CW Keyer and SO2R switch all controlled with USB / COM / Parallel Ports.

More info can be found on the Ham Radio Solutions website which can be found in the links section.

K1EL - Winkey

"Winkey is an external keyer designed by K1EL and G3WGV. This keyer is available stand-alone, or the keyer chip is used in expanded-function interfaces such as Ham Radio Solutions EZMaster, Microham Microkeyer, or RigExpert.  While these functions influence the operation of the Winkey chip, how this may affect the operation of your hardware is influenced by the keyer circuitry. Consult your keyer manual along with the Winkey chip manual for more information on these settings.

 The goal for the keyer is to interface with various Windows programs and to avoid CW timing problems caused by multitasking. This keyer eliminates any hesitation that occurs from scheduling multiple tasks under Windows. It is also a really sweet standalone keyer. Winkey is fed ASCII characters from N1MM Logger (via COM or USB Ports), and converts the ASCII to timed CW.

More info can be found on the website which can be found in the links section.

This keyer eliminates any hesitation that occurs from scheduling multiple tasks under Windows. It is also a really sweet standalone keyer. To enable the key, choose a com port for it from the Hardware tab. Check the Winkey option after pressing Set for that com port. Winkey options can be set on the Winkey tab of the Configurer.

The left pane of the Entry window gives information about the Winkey keyer, some examples:

When you are serious about contesting always run the K1EL keyer from a battery and not (only from) the serial port. When you have to reboot your PC for any reason the keyer will still function with an external battery, it won't if powered from the serial port. This will be a frustrating reboot...
Winkey needs a dedicated serial port. This can be a 'real' hardware serial port, or a 'virtual port' over USB created by a product that embeds the winkey chip
The pre-version 9 Winkeys had a bug that when you were sending paddle CW the Winkey's PTT would drop occasionally for a millisecond. If you were using vox on your transceiver, or a modern transceiver, no issue, but it could be hard on the T/R relays in your amp if you were relying just on PTT.

From version 10 Winkey has non volatile settings, so that you can use it without the computer being on - if you power it separately.

N1MM does not support more than one instance of WinKey. To handel two radios there are two ways to do that with WinKey:

1) Use Pin 14 on a parallel port as the A/B toggle to drive a relay which switches the CW output (and PTT) between radios
2) Use N1MM's support for Pin 3 / Pin 5 output and use Pin 3 for Radio #1 and Pin 5 for Radio #2.

The downside of option #2 is that there is no WinKey generated PTT (and with microKEYER "advanced" PTT for an amplifier) for hand sent CW.

Why Winkey?

WinKey works totally different from conventional keyers, but on a user level, you don't notice that: it just keys your rig like other interfaces. The benefit is on slower PC's, where LPT or com port keying might be 'stuttering' because the PC has other tasks to do while processing the CW. Or on newer PC's or laptops, that might not have LPT's or (too few) com ports but plenty of USB. Doing CW with an ordinary COM-CW interface does not always work on a USB-to-serial converter, WinKey should work just fine through such a device, because rather than being triggered by voltage levels, it exchanges text strings.

Other than that, K1EL has made WinKey also a good stand-alone keyer for the price I've seen commercial 'dumb' LPT interfaces being sold. And it can be used to write your own software (should you want to) without going through the hassle of solving timing problems that come with sending CW with a PC. Ask Tom what a pain that is! That's because WinKey is intelligent and 'talks' with the PC by exchanging ASCII text strings, and then processes these strings with its own built in logic to CW, rather than CW being generated on the PC itself.

N1MM logger needs at least version 9 or higher of Winkey. It is a very inexpensive upgrade from K1EL.

N1MM does support no more than one instance of WinKey....

microHAM - microKEYER

I thought it might be useful to share my settings for running N1MM with microKEYER and in my case a FT-1000MP.

CW keying

This got me up and running for rig control with the FT-1000MP and CW keying.

RTTY

N1MM logger - configurer MK Router MMTTY - set-up menu
Com6 FT1000MP rig control DTR + CTS always on PTT via rig control
Com7 digital  DTR + CTS always on
Com8 WinKey		 Radio    Com6
FSK      Com7
WinKey Com8		 Misc tab -  TX port  COM-TxD(FSK)
TX tab   -  PTT port 7 
  ****This is the setting that caught me out!!!

The actual Com port numbers are not important as long as you use the same number for all the different parts of the set-up. The above works perfectly for me.  Please feel free to correct any errors or omissions.

73 Jim  MM0BQI

Tentec ORION + "Mute mic on supported radios"

In the Configuration dialogs (Other tab) make sure that "Mute mic on supported radios" is *NOT* checked.  If that is checked, N1MM mutes the microphone and turns on the AUX input during DVK operation.  By design the microKEYER routes DVK audio to the microphone input.

ICOM CI-V-interfaces + Transceive on/off features

How to connect microHAM devices to N1MM logger and for example a SteppIR antenna which needs Transceive ON to know the radio frequency while N1MM logger likes to see Transceive OFF.
The microKEYER (Router) will poll only when the logging software is not (for example, Router will poll even though N1MM logger does not). The Router polls will keep data flowing on the CI-V bus to allow the SteppIR and other similar hardware to stay "in sync."

The microHAM Band Decoder will provide antenna switching (including support for multiple antennas per band with the appropriate external switch) according to your normal programming , provide drive for bandpass filters (several brands) and can do "format conversion" which will allow a Yaesu (Quadra, FL-7000) or Icom (IC-2KL, IC-4KL, IC-PW1) solid state amplifier to work with any other (supported Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, or TenTec) radio.

The same capability exists with non-Icom radios.

N1MM can't read the RX frequency (shows as 0) - frequency shown fine in microHam router without N1MM logger

N1MM polls for slightly different data than Router (VFO A and VFO B vs. "Current operating frequency") so Router "times out."
   
    Open Router | Control | Set and uncheck "Disable router queries" .

Truncation of messages (when using Winkey keyer)

Symptom: Sent all the macro CW messages except the last letter and then goes back to receive. The solution is to add a space or the | character (the shifted \ character) at the end of the macro message.  The | characte is about 1/3 of a space.

microHAM - MK2R/MK2R+

To set up MK2R+ with N1MM using LPT control see:  www.microham.com/Downloads/MK2R_N1MM_Setup.pdf

For a set-up using only USB see "USB-only SO2R.pdf" by N4ZR in the N1MM Logger area on Yahoo (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N1MMLogger).


Q. When I load N1MM logger the message shows: "Winkey v2 detected, Only Winkey v4 and higher are supported in N1MM." 
A. That's a Winkey initialization error of some kind which shows when the MK2R+ is not switched on when N1MM logger is started.

Q. How many serial ports are needed by MK2R to fully work
A. In any case, one only needs five ports for a fully functioning system with N1MM (Radio 1, Radio 2, PTT 1, PTT2, and WinKey). Any other functions (Packet, rotor control, etc.) do not need
to be in the "first eight." MMTTY/Digital Interface will share a port with PTT (and CW if you are not using WinKey) ... and MMVARI or MMTTY in AFSK mode does not require a port at all.
Even if/when the SO2R control signals get mapped to serial handshake lines or the software adds support for the microHAM control protocol (on a virtual port) one additional port will
not push most systems "over the line" - although the ability to start the block of eight other than at COM1 would provide a bit of insurance.   73,  Joe, W4TV

An example setup
microHAM Router N1MM Logger (6.10.9 or higher)
  • VOICE Audio Switching for both radios:  CmCmCm
   FT1000MP, Proset Plus plugged to front mic jack.
  • Configurer | Audio tab
    •  2 - Single Card - Two Radio, No sound card SO2R
    • Select Device = USB Voice CODEC
    • Select Input Line = Microphone
    • Select Line to Mute = Microhone
    • Recording bits = 16
    • Sampling rate = 22050
Ctrl+Shift+Fx to record, Fx to playback.

USB-only SO2R support

With USB-only SO2R support using the the MicroHam SO2R protoco. an LPT port to command various SO2R functions with the MK2R/MK2R+ is no longer needed.

Designate a virtual COM port as your MK2R control port in N1MM logger. To do this, check the CW/Other box for the port, click on 'Set', and check the MK2R box on the port details dialog. Then go to the SO2R tab on the MicroHam Router, select Microham SO2R protocol with the "radio button", and identify the COM port in the drop-down list just below. Finally, if you want to use program-derived band data, on the ACC tab change the Radio 1 and Radio 2 options to "SO2R protocol controlled". If you want to control band decoders for two radios, you may need to wire up a new cable to get Radio 1 data from pins 6-9 on the ACC connector, and Radio 2 data from pins 10-13.

Record-on-the fly within the program is supported using USB-only.

Suggested port setup by Joe, W4TV

"The MK2R/MK2R+ operates very well with six total ports (I will use A - F to avoid particular numbers):

COM A - WinKey (it is best to assign WinKey to the "lowest" port to avoid loss of CW if another port is activated for CW)
COM B - Radio #1 (PTT and Footswitch is optional on this port)
COM C - Radio #2 (PTT and Footswitch is optional on this port)
COM D - Digital #1 FSK and PTT for Radio #1 (assign Radio 1)
COM E - Digital #2 FSK and PTT for Radio #2 (assign Radio 2)
COM F - MK2R (protocol port)

A user who does not choose to do FSK (uses AFSK only) can survive with FOUR virtual ports as PTT can be enabled on each of the radio ports - even with radios that normally expect "handshake" - as the MK2R does the handshaking and frees both RTS/DTR lines for control functions."

The COM D and COM E PTT settings (or the optional radio port PTTs) are necessary if you wish to use the built-in N1MM Logger "DVK" with PTT (rather than VOX). This does not mean that you have to designate COM 5 and 6 on the Ports tab as PTT - instead you can just make sure the PTT box is checked on your two FSK ports in Router. If you wish to use the MK2R's built-in DVK instead, you will need to check the "DVK" box on the port you are using for the MK2R.

On-the-fly recording from within N1MM logger

In order to make on-the-fly recording with Ctrl+Shift+Fx work with N1MM and the MK2R+, there are a couple of unusual requirements:

RigExpert

When installing drivers for RigExpert Std or Plus, it creates 4 virtual COM Ports on your computer along with USB Audio Codec (for its internal sound card).
Click on "Show Serial Ports" (ListRE program which comes with RigExpert software) and write down COM port numbers for CAT and PTT/CW for future reference.
Then run your N1MM.  (Make sure you are not running other logging programs at the same time to avoid port conflict).
Go to Configure and click on Configure Ports, Telnet Address, Other. Click on Hardware. You will see a selection of COM port from COM 1 to COM 8. Select the proper COM port number for CAT (the one you memorized before), select your radio model and in Details select the proper parameters for your radio (baud rate, etc.). Then select proper COM port number for CW/PTT (check CW/PTT) and in the details set DTR to CW and RTS to PTT. If you are using RigExpert Plus, then you may also set a separate COM port for Winkey.
If you want to use RigExpert as your Sound card (for SSB messages or RTTY) you may go to Audio (under the same Configurer menu) and select USB Audio Codec as you Sound Device.
Please keep in mind that N1MM only accepts COM port number from 1 to 8. So if upon RigExpert installation you were given higher COM port number, then you should go to Windows Device Manager and change it.
Also, don't forget that you can not run two programs that using USB Interface, at the same time.
If you have older RigExpert - SD or 2.2, you still may use it with N1MM, just need to install additional driver (REAUDIO).

When RigExpert SD is used with N1MM for Voice Keying, in the Configurer's Audio select "RigExpert" as a Device. Then configure the Recorded wav file path in the "Files". 
The older RigExpert models,need to have REAUDIO installed. For newer RigExpert models REAUDIO is not needed "USB Audio Codec" in the "Select Device" menu should be seleceted.

Top Ten Devices - Automatic band decoder & DX Doubler

To replicate the default Top Ten Devices behavior, you would need to set up the Antenna tab in Configurer as shown in the Interfacing section.

Hardware update: 'Both ears on the INactive radio' versus 'Both ears on the Active (or Run) radio' from the keyboard

I wanted to go one better and mimic the "PTT" operation of the DXD, which puts both ears on the INactive radio for aggressive S&P, but still be able to put both ears on the Active (or Run) radio from the keyboard, to help pick up weak answers to my CQs while HC8N is blasting on the S&P radio at S9 +40.  You can do this manually by switching the DXD audio mode switch from PTT to Auto, but I'd rather keep my hands on the keyboard.

After corresponding with George, W2VJN and Dave, N3RD, of Top Ten, and entirely thanks to them, I have it working. I also owe a vote of thanks to Terry, N4TZ/9, whose article in September/October NCJ describes modifying the DXD to do the same trick, but with a footswitch, and got us all thinking.

First, put the DXD jumpers (2) in their CT/Writelog/TR/MM position. This has the effect of isolating pin 5 of the LPT port. Then put a 2N2222 open collector switch between pin 5 and the Auto terminal of S3 on the DXD (that's the audio mode switch). Specifically, pin 5 drives the base of the transistor through a 1K resistor connected to the high side of R22, just like the basic CW keying interface.  The emitter is grounded to the ground side of R22, and the collector is wired to the switch side of R29.  I mounted the transistor next to R22 with double-sided tape.  Ugly but effective.  That's all there is to it.

73, Pete N4ZR

Note: When using the DX Doubler on another port then LPT1 check out the proper addresses.

West Mountain Radio - RigBlaster

CW and Digital setup RigBlaster Plus

Inside the RigBlaster Plus set the following jumpers on the P5 jumper block: D9 and D12, corresponding to RTS on PTT and DTR on KEY. Switch the port on which the RigBlaster is set from DIGITAL to OTHER. In N1MM's configuration use DTR (pin 4) set to CW and RTS (Pin 7) set to PTT. Using this configuration, everything works properly generating CW from N1MM and furthermore, this combination will allow the other soundcard related things to work (MMTTY, SSTV, PSK, Voice Key Express, etc). (by David, K1TTT)

SSB setup RigBlaster Plus

With it set up this way, it correctly mutes the microphone while transmitting a wav file and the VOX works when not transmitting a wav file.

CW key down problem and Rigblaster Pro

When your radio in CW stays in key down position try setting DTR to CW.

Transverters

N1MM logger has transverter support in the form that per bandmap an offset frequency can be set. Right click menu bandmap and select Set transceiver offset frequency. Enter the transceiver offset frequency in kHz (minus is allowed). Example: 116000 when using a transverter from 28 MHz to 144 MHz (144000 - 28000 = 116000). The same for other bands (up or down). This can be set per bandmap so when using two transceivers with transverters they can each be on a different band. The offset is saved by the program so after a restart the offset is still there.

Unsupported Hardware

CW decoders

No CW decoder is built in nor any external CW decoder is supported.

W5XD MultiKeyer

The W5XD MultiKeyer is not supported and there are no plans to do so. SO2R support is provided by sound cards and Winkey or by other external hardware using serial and parallel ports.
Winkey kits can be purchased very cheap and the logging program can do SO2R switching for CW with a single sound card. See the SO2R chapter. Scroll way down, and look for the picture of the #3 SO2R CW configuration. Two sound cards are needed for full SSB SO2R (#4 SO2R). 


Other hardware information


All by Joe Subich, W4TV

USB soundcards

The manuals for the soundcards below (in alphabetic order) indicate they have independent microphone and stereo line inputs.
The "low price option" below does not have an on-line manual but the specs on the web site show separate mic and line jacks.

Other soundcards

External versus internal soundcards

There are claims that External USB soundcards work substantially better (and should be used) then internal soundcards (on sigital signals). 

Joe, W4TV: The claimed "advantage" comes from flawed tests which fail to properly set the input level to each sound device to take maximum advantage of its dynamic range.
Except for the very worst sound cards or exceptionally noisy systems, internal sound cards have at least 60 dB of usable dynamic range (the better 16 bit cards have 80 dB of dynamic range and 24 bit cards with high level inputs can have dynamic ranges that approach 100 dB). If the audio from the transceiver is such that the receiver noise floor (no antenna) is six to ten dB above the noise floor of the sound card, the software DSP (MMTTY, etc.) will be able to operate at its full capacity. Receiver AGC, etc. will limit the receiver output to a level well below the input capacity of the soundcard. Most receivers will not vary more than 30 to 40 dB from quiet band to S9 +40 dB receive signals. Soundcard performance is not a matter of internal vs. external. It is a matter of careful attention to setting the proper level to allow the soundcard to function properly.

Going back from serial ports numbers greater than number 8 

When using USB-serial converters some of them start up with serial ports numbering beyond 8. When this happens it is possible to change the serial port number  to something less than Com 8. Go to Communications Port Properties, Port Settings Tab, then click on Advanced. There is a pull-down in the Advanced window that allows the setting of the port number. If all ports COM1 - COM8 are used then find out what devices
are using them and reconfigure or uninstall those devices  to free up the ports. Windows will "reserve" COM ports for devices that are disconnected so it will take some detective work.